When I was a student at St. Joseph’s University, I began to spend time on the streets of Philadelphia, getting to know the men and women for whom these streets were their only home. The more I developed relationships with them and the more I got to know them, the harder it became to head home at night while they remained outside.
In this journey, I have had many great teachers --- including Georgianna Simmons, who lost nine of her toes to frostbite (冻伤), and Joe Williams, with a college degree, who runs a rescue center for homeless men.
I’ve been doing this work for more than thirty years. People who have nothing have taught me so much about life. The lesson they have taught me is that people who are homeless need the same chances we all need: housing, education, employment, and healthcare. Contrary to our society, which values those it believes productive and rich and often ignores those who struggle with homelessness, I believe that every man, woman, and child has gifts. Everyone matters!
Therefore, I work for a society in which each person is given the chances and resources to achieve their fullest potential (潜力). I also believe that our greatest power is released when people come together across social boundaries (边界) to form a community. It is through “the power of us ” that we come to know the deepest truth of our humanity. This is what I truly believe, “None of us are truly home until all of us are home.”
1. Which of the following is true about the author after he knew more about the homeless?| A．He wanted to make friends with them. | B．He admired the life they were living. |
| C．He decided to live on the streets. | D．He felt great pity for them. |
| A．He has made studies on the homeless. |
| B．He has been homeless for a long time. |
| C．He has done something good for the homeless. |
| D．He has taken care of the homeless at his home. |
| A．The homeless are taken seriously by the government. |
| B．We should provide houses for the homeless. |
| C．The homeless have fewer chances than us. |
| D．The number of the homeless is increasing. |
| A．Everyone matters |
| B．How the homeless live |
| C．The best way to help the homeless |
| D．What we should do to help ourselves |
相似题推荐
【推荐1】Standing on the shore of a lake, I can’t help but marvel at the tens or hundreds of thousands of small rocks that surround my boots. They were all created from hard surfaces, their edges softening over time. And I wonder, can we learn from a pile of rocks?
Much like a rock, I’ve found my attitude has softened and my desire to better understand others has expanded with each trip around the sun.
Once, I too was a sharp rock covered in pointy edges. Today, after decades of the waters of life coursing over me, my edges are softer and more understanding. I’m less likely to judge and more interested in learning how we can exist together.
Two years ago, while traveling in the Pacific Northwest, I watched a restaurant owner ask several people to leave for not wearing masks. Not forceful and not rude. On the door read a sign: “Please wear a mask before entering our restaurant. We don’t like it either, but let’s all do what we can to get through this together.” The group of young men wished to argue about the note.
I sat watching, understanding both sides. I’ve been those guys before, using my youthful edges to chip away at the world. What I lost, however, was the ability to grow from experiences by looking through the eyes of others. In learning to be more open, I’ve also found more happiness and success.
You can fit more rounded rocks in a jar than those with sharp edges. The former look for ways to adjust and make room for others; the latter never give an inch to accommodate others.
Time, like the waters rolling against once sharp stones, changes us. I placed a rounded stone into my jacket pocket. Mother Nature is holding class again.
1. What does the author compare the rocks to?| A．Challenges we come across. | B．What nature offers us. |
| C．People’s abilities. | D．People’s personalities. |
| A．They intended to skip out on the bill. |
| B．They were dissatisfied with the food offered. |
| C．They were unwilling to wear masks. |
| D．They were not allowed to leave the restaurant. |
| A．Fight with. | B．Try to change. |
| C．Provide space for. | D．Leave a good impression on. |
| A．We should adjust to new conditions. |
| B．It’s necessary to consider the feelings of others. |
| C．Be brave when in the face of difficulties in life. |
| D．Being open and understanding brings you more happiness. |
【推荐2】I Don’t Want to Be …
To those who, my dear parents, teachers, and seniors, want to see the future of China in us.
Actually no answer of it is available from me now. But, what I can share with you is, what kind of person I don’t want to be.
I don’t want to be an extremist with a saw in hand, who always sees people as two distinct categories, men vs women, partners vs opponents, in which life becomes a matter of defying each other and fighting out without a sound judgment.
I don’t want to make myself a mean person, teasing others of their success or failure, envying those who live a better life than myself while looking down upon those who are not as good as myself. I don’t want to be the kind of person who complains and makes excuses, who is quick to blame others whenever something fails.
I don’t want to be a person like a product on an assembly line. There is no independent personality, only a predetermined persona (表面形象). There is no brilliant talent, only delusional (假象的) high popularity. There are no wonderful works, only gossips of on-lookers.
I don’t want to make myself an invisible man. I will, offer to bell the cat when needed, instead of being lost in sight when trouble comes and disappearing in the crowd when solutions are sought.
I don’t want to be an unpleasant insincere person, who tells you being at a disadvantage is a blessing when you suffer, who says ignorance is a perfect happiness when it is time to be serious.
Yes, I don’t want to be . I don’t want to be a cold-hearted person. I don’t want to be a cheater. I don’t want to be a barbarian (没有教养的人). I don’t want to be a quitter. I don’t want to be an ingrate (忘恩负义的人). I do not want to be someone who is unpatriotic.
I don’t want to keep on proclaiming, “Humanity further doomed generation after generation.”
When I become a parent, a teacher, or a senior, I hope my child would tell me, I want to be someone like you.
1. What may the speaker most probably be now?| A．A teacher. | B．A judge. | C．A student. | D．A worker. |
| A．The speaker intends to be popular. |
| B．The speaker prefers to be dependent. |
| C．The speaker likes to be praised by others. |
| D．The speaker wants to be a man of character. |
| A．kind-hearted | B．responsible | C．unreliable | D．stubborn |
| A．Comparison. | B．Metaphor. | C．Exaggeration. | D．Parallelism. |
【推荐3】Life is a process. It is said that it doesn’t come the same again; it is glad that the same doesn’t have to come back again.
In this life, what did you miss?
The wife asked the husband when she was 25. Worried, the husband replied, “I missed a new job opportunity.”
When she was 35, the husband angrily told her that he had just missed the bus.
At 45, the husband sadly said, “I missed the opportunity seeing my close relative before his last breath.”
At 55, the husband said disappointedly, “I missed a good chance to retire.”
At 65, the husband hurriedly replied, “I missed an appointment with the dentist.”
At 75, the wife did not ask the husband anymore, the husband was kneeling in front of the very sick wife. Remembering the question the wife used to ask him, this time he asked the wife the same question. The wife, with a smile and peaceful look, replied, “In this life, I did not miss having you!”
The husband was full of tears. He always thought that they could be together forever. He was always busy with work and something unimportant. So much had he never been thoughtful to his wife. The husband hugged the wife tightly and said, “Over 50 years, how I had allowed myself to miss your deep love for me.”
In the busy city life, there are many people who are always busy with work. These people are busy with their jobs, and sacrifice all their time and health to meet the social expectations. They are unwilling to spend time on health care. They miss the opportunity to be with their children in their growing up. They neglect the loved ones who care for them, and also their health.
Nobody knows what is going to happen one year from now. Life is not permanent, so always live in the now.
1. According to the passage, how many years did the couple live together?| A．Less than 20 years. | B．About 30 years. |
| C．About 40 years. | D．More than 50 years. |
| A．Because he felt his wife was responsible for him. |
| B．Because he thought he could live with his wife forever. |
| C．Because he felt guilty about missing her love for him. |
| D．Because he was occupied with work and something unimportant. |
| A．he wanted to catch the bus and see a dentist |
| B．he needed a job opportunity and a chance to retire |
| C．he didn’t treasure what he had because of social challenges |
| D．he was not willing to take good care of his health and children |
| A．The fierce competition in society | B．The love for the loved living now |
| C．The limited time in modern life | D．The great importance of work |
【推荐1】When I was a boy, I disliked the feeling of “being a stranger” if my family went on holiday to another country.
At the age of seven, we went to visit a family friend in France. I had been practicing my French and was excited to use it. I spoke the first French words in a bakery in Paris. Despite a carefully prepared request, I was not ready for the rapid fire response. I had no idea what the sales girl said! I was so upset and knew if I wanted to get better, I would have to put in more efforts.
I started studying Chinese after my trip to China and I studied at Beijing Normal University in the late 1990s. I knew the language would help me to understand China better.
Like Chinese, my motivation to study Russian came from my interest in the country’s history, culture and music. Although I studied languages before joining the foreign office, I hoped that one day I would work internationally.
As a native English speaker, I didn’t expect people to understand me while traveling the world. I wanted to make efforts to understand others through their languages.
Learning a language also improves how you express yourself. When you have limited vocabulary, you have to creatively communicate your messages and meanings. This can also benefit communication skills in your first language. You’ll become more aware of the words you use and how you want people to respond.
Being able to speak other languages gives you another dimension. Not necessarily in terms of personality, but in your ability to have richer experiences with a broader mind.
1. What upset the author in the bakery?| A．He didn’t meet his friend. |
| B．He couldn’t speak French. |
| C．He didn’t prepare the request. |
| D．He couldn’t understand the girl. |
| A．To live in Russia. |
| B．To travel the world. |
| C．To join the foreign office. |
| D．To learn more about Russia. |
| A．Ways of learning foreign languages. |
| B．Benefits of learning foreign languages. |
| C．Efforts needed to speak a language well. |
| D．Different languages in different countries. |
【推荐2】After long hours of waiting for my friend at the bus station, I got tired and wanted to just leave and plan another meeting.
As I was still deciding, there came a man selling shoes and started showing them to me so that I could buy or something. I just smiled and said “thank you”. I don’t know if it was the smile or what but the young man stepped closer and stood beside me and started talking to me. “You know I didn’t just end up like this, selling shoes. I had a life… had a family but one day life just turned upside down and all was gone just like that,” he said. In short, his wife stole all his money, sold his car and house. It was really a hard time for him and he was psychologically anguished. A lot happened and then he decided to pick up the pieces of his life. That’s when he started making and selling shoes to earn a living.
As I stood there listening to him pour out his heart and story of his life. I was still surprised how in the world can someone be so open to a total stranger like that and it occurred to me that some people get relieved that way. You see, a lot of times we meet people and most of them have burdens in their hearts and some of them don’t even have a person to talk to, so I’ve learned to be good to all people and always give them my time to listen to what they have to say. By doing this it will not only help that particular person but also the one who listens since you get to learn something and see the other side of life.
1. What do the author’s smile and “thank you” mean?| A．He/She took interest in the man’s story. |
| B．He/She wanted to have a look at the shoes. |
| C．He/She had no intention to buy anything. |
| D．He/She was busy thinking his/her own things. |
| A．Angry. | B．Painful. | C．Guilty. | D．Shy. |
| A．He was brave enough to continue his life. |
| B．He listened to others to bring them relief. |
| C．He got inspired after talking to the author. |
| D．He always talked to strangers about his life. |
| A．Speak out our trouble. | B．Learn to listen. |
| C．Pour out our hearts. | D．Be kind to strangers. |
【推荐3】Lectures on happiness are becoming increasingly popular in Harvard University. I went to one of them, which left a lasting impression on me. While we were listening with close attention, the speaker suddenly stopped and started a game, giving each person a balloon. Each one was asked to write their name on it using a pen. Then the 100 students from 25 schools were divided into two groups.
Now the two groups were in different rooms with their balloons flying in it. The first group of 50 students were asked to find the balloon with their name on it within 5 minutes. Everyone was hurriedly searching for their own name, pushing and running into each other, and there was lots of noise. At the end of 5 minutes, none of them could find their own balloon.
The second half, on the other hand, was asked to randomly (随机地) collect a balloon and give it to the person whose name was written on it. Within minutes everyone had their own balloon.
This is exactly happening in our lives. Everyone is hurriedly looking for happiness all around, not knowing where it is. Our happiness lies in the happiness of other people. Give them their happiness, and you will get your own happiness. And this is the purpose of human life.
1. At the beginning of the game, each person was asked to_________.| A．A write their name on a balloon | B．visit Harvard University |
| C．fly their balloon with wishes | D．get into 4 different groups |
| A．None made any noise at all. | B．None found their balloon |
| C．Everyone found their friends. | D．Everyone helped one another. |
| A．5. | B．25. | C．50. | D．100. |
| A．Everyone pushed each other in the two groups. |
| B．Students in the game come from the same school. |
| C．Our happiness comes from the happiness of others. |
| D．Students learned nothing about happiness in the game. |
| A．Finding Happiness | B．Having Lectures |
| C．Collecting Balloons | D．Playing Games |
【推荐1】Railcards
Want to save on the price of your train tickets?Then you'll need to buy a National Railcard.The first step is to pick the right Railcard,but don't worry!We'll walk you through each type and help you find the one most suited to your needs.
The Network Railcard
Spend £30 on a Network Railcard for the year and look forward to 1/3 off your train tickets during off-peak(非高峰）times.Enjoy discounted travel across 16 counties(郡）in the South East,even including the whole of London!It is a great option for anyone who doesn't fall into any of the other Railcard categories,as people of any age can hold one.
The Student Railcard
At the cost of just £30, this Railcard is excellent value for money.Whether you have an early morning lecture or you're rolling home in the early hours after a night out, you can still get 1/3 off on all passenger rail services within the UK!The only requirement for this Railcard is that you need to be within the ages of 16 and 25.
The Millennial Railcard
This Railcard is available for all who are between the ages of 26 and 30, regardless of peak or off-peak times.However,it is currently only available digitally, with users being required to download the Railcard app and show ticket inspectors during train ticket checks.Costing just £30,the new Railcard can be used across the UK.
The Disabled Persons Railcard
Any passenger with a disability is eligible(符合条件的）to apply for one.It only costs £20,making your overall discount for the year even better!The most important thing is that any types of tickets can be purchased throughout the UK rail network. Besides,it can also get you discounts on London attractions.
1. Which Railcard just applies to train services in part of the UK?| A．The Network Railcard. | B．The Student Railcard. |
| C．The Millennial Railcard. | D．The Disabled Persons Railcard. |
| A．Riding hours. | B．Railcard category. |
| C．Age range. | D．Service charge. |
| A．It cannot be used during peak times. |
| B．It offers discounts on London attractions. |
| C．It is the cheapest among the four Railcards. |
| D．It requires its owners to download an app. |
【推荐2】Teens For Planet Earth
This is a social networking site for teenagers who want to get involved in protecting our planet. They can connect with other green-minded teens, choose a project or create their own. Teens For Planet Earth encourages young folks to get busy in their own communities. They offer guidance on local projects with categories such as habitats, animals, water and education. Awards are given to active members.
Meez
At Meez, teens can create their own avatars(头像), rooms and virtual pets. It is a social community of creative people that combines avatars, virtual worlds and games. Meez offers contests and chat as well as homework help, a fashion central and a writers’ corner. A chat area for younger teens is available. Other areas are music, geek（极客）central, art and sports.
Cyberteens
Cyberteens is another cool site that celebrates the teen years. Here teenagers can find community, games, and news. There is a link called “creativity” where teens can share their poems, stories, photos and artwork. The “cool links” section offers a huge variety of options to the curious teens. This site also has surveys and helps with jobs and school work.
Student.com
Student.com is a resource site for teens and high school students. Its social network has over 900,000 members. Members earn points to win prizes just by browsing and they offer several multi-player games. Points are used to buy items at auction(拍卖会). Student.com is filled with useful information and articles.
1. What is Teens For Planet Earth aimed to?| A．Set up a project. |
| B．Give awards to teens. |
| C．Get young folks busy. |
| D．Give advice on local projects. |
| A．Teens For Planet Earth. | B．Meez. |
| C．Cyberteens. | D．Student.com. |
| A．It has the most members. |
| B．Teens can read articles on it. |
| C．It offers help on school work. |
| D．Teens can make purchases on it. |
【推荐3】The boss of a big company needed to call one of his employees about a serious problem with one of the main computers.
He dialed the employee’s home phone number and was greeted with a child’s whisper, “Hello?” The boss asked, “Is your daddy at home? ” “Yes,” whispered the small voice. “May I talk with him?” the man asked.
To the surprise of the boss, the small voice whispered, “No.” Wanting to talk with an adult, the boss asked, “Is your mommy there?” “Yes,” came the answer. “May I talk with her?” Again the small voice whispered, “No.”
Knowing that it was impossible that a young child would be left home alone, the boss decided he would just leave a message to the person who should be there watching over the child. “Is there anyone besides you?” the boss asked the child. “Yes,” whispered the child, “A policeman.”
Wondering what a policeman would be doing at his employee’s home, the boss asked, “May I speak with the policeman?”
“No, he’s busy,” whispered the child. “Busy doing what?” asked the boss. “Talking to daddy and mommy and the fireman,” came the whispered answer.
Growing concerned and even worried as he heard what sounded like a helicopter(直升机) through the earpiece on the phone, the boss asked, “What is the noise?” “A helicopter.” answered the whispered voice. “What is going on there?” asked the boss, now alarmed.
In a serious whispering voice the child answered, “The search team just landed the helicopter.” Alarmed and concerned and more than just a little disappointed, the boss asked, “Why are they there?” Still whispering, the young voice replied along with an unclear giggly(窃笑), “They are looking for me.”
1. Why did the boss call the employee?| A．A main computer had broken down. |
| B．He wanted to join in the game. |
| C．He wanted to talk to the child. |
| D．He always cared about his employees. |
| A．Inspired. | B．Interested. |
| C．Warm-hearted. | D．Frightened. |
| A．The boss was offering help. |
| B．The child was playing a trick. |
| C．The employee was in danger. |
| D．The child was missing. |
【推荐1】Changing the Game
On a warm September evening in London, The Arch climbing wall, just south of the River Thames, is packed. Scores of people wander around on the thick crash pads, chatting, waiting their turn and offering the odd shout of encouragement to those clinging on to the colourful climbing walls.
Rock climbing was once classified as an “extreme sport”. But indoor centres like The Arch, which offer climbing without the need for rocks, are bringing it into the mainstream. The British Mountaineering Council estimates there are at least 248 public climbing walls in Britain, a number that has risen by 30% since 2010. In 2020 the sport’s governing bodies are hoping to see an even bigger increase in interest. Along with skateboarding, surfing and karate(空手道), rock climbing will be making its first appearance as an Olympic sport at the summer games in Tokyo.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is frank about the ambition to appeal to a younger crowd who may be less familiar with longer-standing sports such as athletics and weightlifting. The crowd at the Arch is exactly what the IOC has in mind: mostly young professional letting off steam after work, who see climbing as a more engaging ans sociable alternative to jogging on running machines or pumping iron in a gym. Between them, the new sports will mean another 18 events and 474 athletes at the Tokyo games.
Officially, all four sports are delighted with their new status. But with the exception of karate, all of them have counter-cultural, anti-establishment roots. Some stars have wondered whether accepting the Olympic torch means going against their beliefs. Owen Wright, a famous surfer, has said that surfing is more art form than sport, and therefore not suitable for the games - though he has since gone back on his word, and hopes to represent Australia in Tokyo.
Adam Ondra, a Czech who is one of the world’s climbers, said he might steer clear of the games because of the format. The eventual Olympic champion will have to master all the three disciplines including bouldering (climbing without a rope, low to the ground, with a focus on hard, gymnastic moves), lead climbing (roped climbing up a tall wall of increasing difficulty) and speed climbing. Bouldering and lead climbing feature new routes in each stage of a competition, in an effort to imitate the variety of real rock. But speed climbing takes place on a standard, unvarying course. Because of this, said Mr. Ondra, “speed is a kind of artificial discipline ... and this is against the soul of climbing.”
Skateboarders, also notably rebellious, can be strikingly young. Sky Brown is set to become Britain’s youngest Olympian and has settled down to training. By the time of the Tokyo games, she will have turned 12.
1. Which of the following statements is true about rock climbing？| A．It originated in The Arch, a sports centre on the River Thames. |
| B．It has evolved from a mainstream sport into an extreme sport. |
| C．Spectator’s encouragement contributes to its rapid expansion. |
| D．The increase in climbing walls reflects a growing interest in it. |
| A．familiarize the global population with the new sport |
| B．attract young people who lack interest in traditional sports |
| C．enable the young to let off their energy after work |
| D．challenge the dominant status of traditional sports |
| A．Surfers are expected to strike a balance between art and sport in the Olympics. |
| B．Rock climbers must be self-disciplined if they are to win the championship. |
| C．Adam believes that the soul of climbing consists in its harmony with nature. |
| D．Strikingly young skateboarders have an advantage over other opponents. |
| A．With the addition of new Olympics sports, stars are divided on whether to participate. |
| B．Rock climbing, skateboard, surfing and karate are accepted as Olympics sports. |
| C．Extreme sports athletes rebel against traditions while training for the Olympics. |
| D．The appeal of a new sport event consists is changing for format of this game. |
【推荐2】I love charity(慈善) shops and so do lots of other people in Britain because you find quite a few of them on every high street. The charity shop is a British institution, selling everything from clothes to electric goods, all at very good prices. You can get things you won’t find in the shops anymore. The thing I like best about them is that your money is going to a good cause and not into the pockets of profit-driven companies, and you are not damaging the planet, but finding a new home for unwanted goods.
The first charity shop was opened in 1947 by Oxfam. The famous charity’s appeal to aid postwar Greece had been so successful it had been flooded with donations(捐赠物). They decided to set up a shop to sell some of these donations to raise money for that appeal. Now there are over 7,000 charity shops in the UK. My favourite charity shop in my hometown is the Red Cross shop, where I always find children’s books, all 10 or 20 pence each.
Most of the people working in the charity shops are volunteers, although there is often a manager who gets paid. Over 90% of the goods in the charity shops are donated by the public. Every morning you see bags of unwanted items outside the front of shops, although they don’t encourage this, rather ask people to bring things in when the shop is open.
The shops have very low running costs: all profits go to charity work. Charity shops raise more than ￡110 million a year, funding(资助) medical research, overseas aid, supporting sick and poor children, homeless and disabled people, and much more. What better place to spend your money? You get something special for a very good price and a good moral sense. You provide funds to a good cause and tread lightly on the environment.
1. The author loves the charity shop mainly because of .| A．its convenient location | B．its great variety of goods |
| C．its spirit of goodwill | D．its nice shopping environment |
| A．sell cheap products | B．deal with unwanted things |
| C．raise money for patients | D．help a foreign country |
| A．The operating costs are very low. | B．The staff are usually well paid. |
| C．90% of the donations are second-hand. | D．They are open twenty-four hours a day. |
| A．What to Buy at Charity Shops. |
| B．Charity Shop: Its Origin & Development. |
| C．Charity Shop: Where You Buy to Donate. |
| D．The Public’s Concern about Charity Shops. |
【推荐3】Back in 2012, Dylan Mayer was 19 years old. He was a few years into a new passion: scuba (水肺) diving. He says spending time under water is like visiting an alien planet full of strange creatures.
Dylan grew up in Maple Valley Washington, just outside of the liberal blue bubble of Seattle. Dylan learned young how to hunt and do farm work. On October 31, 2012, he decided to marry his love of scuba diving with his desire to be self-sufficient and harvest his own food. That gray morning, the goal was to pull a giant pacific octopus from its den, wrestle it to the surface and take it home for dinner.
He and a friend headed to the popular dive site at Cove 2 in West Seattle. With his bare hands, Dylan caught an 80-pound cephalopod (头足类动物). “The key is to stay calm. Once you start to panic, you’ll drown,” said Dylan, recalling his 45-minute hand-to-tentacle (触须) battle with the octopus.
But when he hauled it out of the water, people nearby didn’t look very happy. Dylan and his dive partner threw the octopus in the back of their truck and quickly left the scene.
Even though what Dylan did was perfectly legal and even though octopus is on restaurant menus all over the Northwest, the taking of this particular octopus touched a nerve. Adult members of the diving community that Dylan was so excited to be a part of not only roundly rejected him, but also threatened to kill him and his family. However, one diver from the Cove 2 community rose above the criticism to guide this young diver.
1. What did Dylan Mayer decide to do on October 31, 2012?| A．To get married. | B．To grow his own food. |
| C．To support himself by diving. | D．To pull a giant pacific octopus. |
| A．Dylan went to Cove 2 alone. |
| B．Dylan spent 54 minutes catching the octopus. |
| C．Dylan attached great importance to keeping calm. |
| D．Dylan caught a cephalopod with some equipment. |
| A．Not all people liked it. |
| B．People nearby were very satisfied. |
| C．Adult members of the diving community were very excited. |
| D．Nobody liked it because they thought it was against the law. |
